Sylvia Angela Covino, (nee DeFine), 92 passed away Sunday, May 3rd, 2015 in Bethlehem, PA of natural causes. An only child, Sylvia was born on July 19, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY to Italian immigrants, Theresa and Joseph DeFine.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, Sylvia went on to achieve her Masters Degree in Child Psychology from Columbia University, taught at Bard College and was a kindergarten teacher in Montclair, for over twenty years. Sylvia married Charles Peter Covino on December 28, 1947 in New York City. Together they started and ran General Magnaplate Corporation in Linden, NJ and resided in Upper Montclair, NJ until moving to Ringoes, NJ in 1981 to start their famed American Saddlebred show horse operation, Iron Horse Farm. The entire family showed horses and ponies and IHF was home to multiple World and National champions, including Sir Talmage, Little Sport Model, Spring High, Oprah Winfrey, Right On, Merlin’s Magic, Babe’s Bishop and IHF Dear Sir. Sylvia stayed home on the farm and managed it’s many brood mares and lovingly named all the foals. She was the backbone of the operation. In retirement they moved to Mendham, NJ.

Sylvia is survived by her only child, Candida and her husband Edmund Aversenti of Bethlehem, PA; her grandchildren Ashley and Joseph Russo of Center Valley, PA; Carlin and Todd Dunphy of Missouri City, Texas; Katy and Jason Shumaker of Seattle, WA and Danyel Aversenti of Hartford, CT; and great-grandchildren Nolan, Renna, Hudson, Fiona, Charlie, Max and Scarlet.

She was predeceased by her son Charles P. Covino, Jr. and her husband Charles P. Covino.

Visitation will be held at the Bailey Funeral Home in Peapack, NJ Thursday May 7, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Brigid RC Church in Peapack, NJ at 10am on Friday, May 8th.

At the family’s request and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sylvia Angela Covino’s name to the following: